Lawn-sprinkler.



J. D. HUMPHREY.

` LAWN SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 6. I9I6.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.;

I/z En' far' foiell, B.H1LMI1/,

ifa/"HHH o., vusmmzmwA o cA JOI-IN D. HUMPI-IREY, OF NORFOLK, CONNECTICUT.

LAWN-SPRINKLER.

pareces.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3C, 1917.

Application led November 6, 1916. Serial No. 129,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn- Sprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what I shall for convenience term a lawn sprinkler.

While the invention is primarily designed for sprinkling lawns, for which reason I have selected the title given, it is conceivable that it can be used with equal advantage in other connections.

One of the primary purposes of the invention is the provision of an article of this character, having means of an eective nature, for the distribution of water or other liquid over variable areas.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sprinkler involving the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4:-4 of Fig. 2, showing the regulator in two positions by dotted and full lines respectively, and Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of said sprinkler.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The sprinkler comprises in its construction a head which is perforated for the discharge of the liquid which in the case of a lawn sprinkler will be water. Associated with this head is a spreader which directs or `diverts the streams of water over the area or zone to be covered. I provide means whereby this area can be regulated. Inl the present case there is provision for supplying the water over a full circle, and means whereby the supply can be directed over part of a circle for instance half a circle.

With the foregoing general observations I will now refer more in detail to the drawings which as will be understood show a highly advantageous structure to which I- am not restricted except as demanded by the scope of my claims.

The device comprises in its organization a suitable head, that denotedin a general way Yby 2 answering satisfactorily in this connection. As represented this head consists of a body 3 and a crown as 4:, the body usually consisting of a casting, while the crown piece or top ordinarily is in the form of a sheet metal disk rolled or spun over the upper edge of the body 3. The carrier for the head 2 may be of any suitable nature, for instance what is known as a sled 5 answering in this respect. This sled may as is the custom, consist of a skeleton-like casting adapted to rest on and when necessary to be drawn over the ground. The head 2 may be united to the carrier or sled 5 in any convenient way; as shown the head has a depending screw 6 projecting through a central perforation in the carrier or sled and adapted to receive a nut as 7 In conjunction with the head 2 is a suitable spreader such as that denoted by 8, this spreader being in the form of an inverted frusto-conical shell. A shell is preferable to a solid body, owing to the fact that it can be made inexpensively. The bottom of the shell has a concavity as 9 to receive the convexity 10 of the top 4, the two parts being united in any desirable manner as by soldering. The top has a series of perforations 11 arranged in annular order, properly spaced and in proximity to the base portion of the spreader. The water or other liquid issues from these perfor-ations or needle openings 11, and striking the outer tapered surface of the spreader is directed in the desired manner. As will hereinafter appear I provide for the discharge of the water or other liquid over different areas. As I have already observed I may deliver the water over a full circle of desired radius or can supply it over a part of the circle or as I have already noted practically half.v The perforations or needle 'openings 11 as represented are formed in the top of therannular bead 12 rising from the top 4 and into which the base of the conical spreader 8 is received. The liquid to be sprinkled may be supplied to the head in any suitable manner for instance and as shown by a hose or similar connection, the body 3 being provided with an internally threaded tubular extension 13 to receive such'hose or equivalent connection. v

To control the discharge of liquid from the head 2 a suitable regulator vsuch as that denoted in a general way by 14 may be provided. This regulator comprises the body portionV 15 represented as consisting of a semi-annular plate having a rearwardly eX- tending projection 16, there being formed jointly in the body or plate 15 and extension or projection 16, the longitudinal slot 17 to receive the` reduced threaded portion of the screw 18 which is tapped into theboss or enlargement 19 rising from the tubular eXtension 13. Said yextension or plate 16 fits flatwise against and is supportedk against the upperflat surface of the boss or enlargement 19. The shoulderedportion 20 Vof the screw 18 is adapted to clamp this projection or extension 16 against the boss orcnlarge-k Vment 19 to hold the vextension and therefore theV body or plate 15 in a desired position. The body or plate 15 is shown as occupying by full lines in Fig 4i its rear position at which time it uncovers all the perforations orvneedle openings. Y If, therefore, when said body or plate isv in this particular relation water be supplied to the head 2, it will issue in a multiplicity of small streams from the perfor-ations orY needle openings 11 and these streams striking the outer tapered surface oit'A the spreader 8 will be directed'by the latter over a full circle. From the ends of the plate 'or valve body 15, the wings 21 extendv outwardly and upwardly; as a matter of factv the wings converge downwardly. Vhen thecut off or valve plate 15 is in the dotted line position, its inner edge will' practically engage the base portion Vof the conicalspreader 8 and at the samev time the inner inclined edges of thetwo outwardly directed wings 21 will follow the taper of the exterior-,of` the conical spreader. l/Vhen the valveor cut-off plate 15, therefore, is in the dotted line position virtually half the perforations 1,1 will be closed, so that theoreti-v cally no water can issue Y:from them. Certainly no streams will Yemerge from these openings thus covered. The' wings 21, of coursefdirect any water that strikes them laterally in practically straight lines, these wingswhen'the cut-oit plate 15 is in its water shut-off Vposition being approximately diametrically opposite each other and abutting 'against the spreader 8 throughout their complete. length. v

' I do not necessarily provide for the firm itting yof the valve or cut off plate over the. openings. 11 which for the time being may vbe required to be shut olf. I may of course do this, but it is not essential. In view of this condition water may Yflow vfrom the openings thus covered and,A willpass under the plate 15. Means are'provided for directing this water in a downward direction, and the meansshown' for this purpose consist of a flange 22 which is coextensive with the body or plate 15. and depends from the outer edge thereof. W'hen said valve plate is in its cut off position, this depending` flange engages the peripheral portionY of the top l and naturally prevents backward kmovement of the water should any escape from the openings covered, the water being directed straight downward. As a result of this when the said plate is in the cut otfposition, the area at the rear of the sprinkler is left dry or comparatively so,

so that the device can be reached without fearrof wetting the feet.

I have mentioned the fact that the'body 3 usually consists of a casting.Y As will be clear this is a very small point, but I might note the `fact that it can be made from wrought metal if desired.

What I claim is:

1. A sprinkler comprising a head and a spreader risingY from the'head, the' head having a series of perforations to directV streams. of water againstthe spreader, and a plate movable to cover one or more of the perforations 'and provided with laterally extending wings to engage the spreader when the valve member closes said per-fora,`

tions. v

2. A sprinkler comprisinga head andan approximately rusto-conicalspreader rising from' the head, the head having a series of perforatlons arranged in lannularY order around the base ofthe spreader to direct,v

streams of liquid against sald spreader, andv a plate movable across approximately-half the perforations, said plate having laterally disposed wingsto-t against the-"spreader when the plate is` in perforation-closing re lation, said plate .also having a, depending flange, practically coextensivek therewith.

4C. A'sprinkler comprisimq` a head, and a truste-conical spreader rising-from the head substantially .centrally thereof, -Y the,Y head-- havinga series` of perforations disposed approximately 1n' annular order to direct streams of liquid against thespreader, and Y an, approximatelyY semi-annular plate; move ablek to. cover a number of sald perforations and terminating inrlaterally disposed wingsy which engage the spreader when the' plate 1s in-perforation-closing relation, said plate also having a depending flangeto: titV against the head when said plate is in said relation.

5. A sprinkler comprising a head, and a rusto-oonical spreader rising from the head substantially centrally thereof, the head 5 having a series `of perforations disposed approximately in annular order to direct streams of liquid against the spreader, and an approximately semi-annular plate movable to cover a number of said perforations and terminating in laterally disposed Wings which engage the spreader when the plate is in perforation closing relation, said plate also having a depending flange to lit against the head When said plate is in said relation, said head having an interiorly threaded boss and the plate having a rearward longitudinally slotted extension, and a screw tapped into said boss extending through said slot and engaging said extension to hold the plate in a desired position.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN D. HUMPHREY. Witnesses:

PAUL B. ELMoRE, GEO. H. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

